The Yorkville-based Kendall County Food Pantry will benefit with cash and food donations from the 18th annual Kendall County CROP Hunger Walk on Sept. 30 at Oswego Presbyterian Church, 1976 Rt. 25. 

The public is invited. Participation is free.

Walk co-leaders Kathy Davidson of Montgomery and Cindy Pittsford, Oswego, said more than $4,000 was donated to the pantry from last year’s Kendall CROP Walk.
“The food pantry is feeding more clients with fewer donations,” Davidson said. “Walkers and others are invited to bring cash and food donations to a pantry truck that will be stationed at the church.”
Items needed most are canned fruit, tuna,mayonaisse, mustard, ketchup, and dish soap Davidson said.
On Sept. 30, the three-mile walk opens with registration and a free hot dog lunch at 1 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m., walkers will step off on a route that loops back to the church. A water station will be available.
“This year’s walk is dedicated to the memory of Charles Doetschman and Lyle Hardecopf, longtime Kendall CROP Walk supporters,” Davidson said.
Walkers are welcome to bring their dogs on leashes.
Prizes donated by local businesses will be raffled..
Davidson said the walk’s goal is $20,000 to help stop hunger and poverty in Kendall and around the world, through self-help initiatives.
Twenty-five percent of the funds raised in Oswego will go to the Kendall County Food Pantry.
Last year, about 150 Kendall County walkers raised more than $16,000 in their locally organized CROP Hunger Walk.
Since 1985, the Kendall County walk has raised $158,371 to fight hunger. A quarter of those funds were returned to the local area.
In Illinois, the Kendall County walk was the 26th highest fundraising CROP event in 2011.
According to Davidson, “On Sept. 30, we will gather with others in Kendall County to fight hunger both here and around the world.
“We need walkers and sponsors for the walk. Please contact me or a church recruiter for more details and to sign up to be a walker, a sponsor, or both.
This year, Kendall County communities are among 2,000 cities and towns nationwide joining together in interfaith community CROP Hunger Walks around the theme “Ending hunger one step at a time.”
Many of the CROP Walkers will be wearing T-shirts, proclaiming their solidarity with the millions of neighbors around the world who have to walk to live — as well as with the millions served by local food pantries, food banks, and meal sites in the U.S.
For the 21st year, Colonial Café & Ice Cream will give a cash donation to the Kendall CROP Walk for every walker. Additionally, Colonial will give each walker a free sundae certificate to help stop hunger after the walk.

Kendall churches participating with team recruiters are:
Montgomery–Neighborhood Church of the Brethren, Ginger Florence;
Newark–Immanuel Lutheran, Laura Devick
Oswego–Oswego Presbyterian, Davidson, Montgomery
Plainfield–Followers of Christ Lutheran, Rev. Ron Voss; Wheatland Presbyterian,Nancy Krumpolz
Yorkville–Church of the Good Shepherd, Donna Rodriguez; Kendall County Food Pantry, Mary Ellen Dempsay; Trinity Church United Methodist, Deb Croyle and Katherine Kunkel, Montgomery; Plattville United Methodist; AuSable Grove Presbyterian; Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ, June Davis.

Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) hunger walks are sponsored worldwide by Church World Service, an international relief agency.
CROP Hunger Walk is the oldest hunger-fighting fundraising event in the U.S. CWS helps people around the world have enough food to eat and clean water to drink–allowing children to have the best start at life possible.
Haiti is one part of the world where CROP Hunger Walks are making a big difference.
In the aftermath of the killer earthquake, CWS was there with much-needed emergency assistance.
With the recovery effort in full swing, CWS is helping families and communities to rebuild homes, food supplies and livelihoods.
CROP Hunger Walks also play a role in the U.S., helping communities ravaged by floods and tornadoes to recover.
For more information about the Kendall County CROP Hunger Walk, call Davidson at (630) 897-1108.